A Mother’s Letter in Auschwitz

In the hell of Auschwitz Erika Bock, 18, received a final message of faith that would accompany her throughout her life.

Auschwitz-Birkenau, summer 1944. A train from Budapest slowed as it approached the infamous camp gates and finally stopped at the platform. The doors to the cattle cars opened; welcome to hell.

Against the incongruous background of a prisoner orchestra playing a Hungarian folk song, the SS guards forced the prisoners – already weakened by the inhuman overcrowding of their journey – out onto the platform in a mad rush of barking dogs and terrified men, women and children.

One of those who stepped out that day was Erika Bock, an 18-year-old girl originally from Pressburg, Slovakia. One of five children, she had been born into a house permeated by Jewish learning. Her father, Samu Bock had studied in the world-famous Pressburg Yeshiva for 13 years. Her mother Gisela was accustomed to fast every Monday and Thursday for half a day, and she had her seat taken out in shul so that she would stand for the whole time out of respect for its holiness.

Like many Central European Jews, she and her siblings were raised as German-speakers with a secular education. But unusual for a girl of her time, Erika also had an extensive Jewish education. The groundbreaking Beis Yaakov girls school system – today a global phenomenon – was in its infancy. In 1939 her parents sent her to Tapolchan, Slovakia where the original Krakow branch of the movement had relocated due to the war.

It was the example of her parents’ home together with her own immersion in Jewish learning that gave her the faith for what she was to endure in the years ahead.

Unlike in next-door Hungary, terror came early to the Bock family in Slovakia. By 1940, persecution of Jews had begun under the Nazi-allied regime of Catholic priest Josef Tiso. When deportations of Jews started in 1941, Samu and Gisela Bock decided that their daughters had to flee to Budapest, where Jews were safe.

They paid a courier to drive Erika and her younger sister Mimi across the border to neighboring Hungary. Due to the danger, a famous rabbi then in Pressburg, Rav Yonason Steif, permitted them to leave on Friday night.

The young girls weren’t on their way to freedom. Their driver betrayed them and drove straight to the nearest Gestapo headquarters.

But unknown to the young girls, they weren’t on their way to freedom. The driver who their parents had trusted crossed the border and drove straight to the nearest Gestapo headquarters. The girls were arrested and taken to a Budapest jail, where they were beaten and held in solitary confinement. Destroying the papers that identified them as Jews, the sisters claimed that they had been deported to Hungary against their will.

Although the authorities couldn’t prove that they were Jewish, Erika and her sister were deported to Auschwitz along with other Jews from Budapest. Standing on the Auschwitz railway platform in 1944, Erika found herself being sent to the left in a selection whose meaning she didn’t understand at the time.

She was assigned the horrific job to sort through the belongings of those who had just been gassed. Told only that they would be going to the East for “resettlement”, many Jews filled their pockets with money, pictures, or prayer books as they left on their final journey.

During one night shift something unusual happened. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, young Erika felt an extreme fear. As she would say later, until you got to Auschwitz there was fear; afterwards, one was so preoccupied with impending death that there was no fear. And yet on that night a sudden terror overcame her, making her teeth chatter.

Two of Erika’s fellow prisoners from Poland called the overseer, a Dutch Jew called Eli. He came over and asked what was happening. “I can’t go on, I don’t want to go on,” said Erika, bent over with panic.

But the foreman rebuked her: “Look at that crematorium. There is my wife, there are my children, but I must continue. You have to carry on!”

But the fear didn’t leave her, and she reached for a siddur in the pile of belongings that she was sorting and prayed.

Later that night, a new consignment of belongings arrived. Erika picked up a handbag and suddenly called out, “This is my mother’s!”

Having been separated from her mother years before, with thousands of Jews from all across Europe arriving and being killed daily, what were the chances that this was really her mother’s handbag?

One of the Polish women said to the other, “Panis zwarisvala – she’s gone crazy!” Having been separated from her mother years before, and with thousands of Jews from all across Europe arriving and being killed daily, what were the chances that this was really her mother’s handbag? And yet Erika insisted that it was the black bag with an ivory handle that her father had given to her mother.

As the others watched, Erika opened the handbag. Inside was a picture of herself, and postcards – addressed to her. They were stamped “undeliverable”, returned to her mother who had never stopped trying to contact her as she was imprisoned.

One, in Hungarian, bore the following message: “My dear child, never stumble, always have trust in God.”

So as her mother was being gassed, which inexplicably prompted an outburst of fear and crying in Erika, she received a final message of faith – one that would accompany her throughout her life.

It was only in the 1970s that Erika began to speak about her experiences. After the war she married Mr. David Rothschild of Zurich, and together they built a house famous for being open to all in need, and were instrumental in creating much of the city’s Jewish infrastructure including the school and old age home. But it was an encounter in a Swiss hospital that persuaded her that she had a duty to share her story. While lying in a hospital bed, the nurse noticed the number 82587 branded into her arm. “Frau Rothschild,” she exclaimed, “how clever of you to write your phone number on your arm so that you shouldn’t forget it!”

Shocked that an educated person, only three decades after the Holocaust could be unaware of what those numbers meant, she decided that it was time to speak.

In a talk that she gave to foreign diplomats in Bern, Switzerland in 1998, Mrs Rothschild spoke of that incident: “Can you see that this was something supernatural? At the very moment that my mother, from whom I’d been separated for years, was gassed, I was overcome with feelings of tremendous fear. 'Never stumble, always trust in God!' These words were her last legacy to me, and have remained in my thoughts my whole life.”

Mrs Erika Rothschild passed away just over 20 years ago, and I married her granddaughter, named after Erika’s younger sister Mimi who died in Auschwitz just after liberation. Having survived Auschwitz, a world of suffering and tears, she set up a home full of the warmth of the Judaism that she’d seen at home.

But perhaps the enduring message of the handbag in Auschwitz isn’t so much about suffering, as about the faith possible despite hard times.

Life brings challenges, some of them very difficult ones. We may not be able to explain the darkness – but for the person of faith, the light is there. For Erika Rothschild, her faith was real; it was born in her parents’ home and strengthened in the crucible of Auschwitz.

I stumbled with one disabled leg? But trusting God as Erika said is all I need!

Its when we see or hear about others, who in innocense are much worse of, than our own disabilities, that makes the God of Israel, much bigger than any journey we cannot make. I am privileged to read about the faith and courage of Erika Blocs. Shalom always and all ways Shimon x

(18)
John E Williams,
August 20, 2019 3:39 PM

It makes ill to think of the suffering

These individual stories sink to my core. Trust in GOD even in the darkest hours is true but some times hard to under-stand. It's easy to trust in GOD when things are fine with one.

(17)
Merle Lewis,
August 20, 2019 10:20 AM

status

This makes me ashamed that I am not Jewish in fact more than just desire

Aviel,
August 20, 2019 5:21 PM

Never be ashamed of who are where you had no free will deicides

Gentiles have a purpose and are made in Gds image as are Jews. If you believe that your soul is Jewish conversation is an option but by no means easy or necessary. Jews are commanded to love the convert 39 times and ones fellow Jew once so it is not natural. It seems to me better live as a righteous Gentile uthan a Jew who does not keep the commandments which apply only to them

Carolyn Fischer,
August 21, 2019 10:10 PM

Spiritually Jewish

Thanks be to Gd, I am a gentile who is spiritually Jewish. People might not understand it, believe it, or accept it. Gd does and that's enough for me.

(16)
Sam Omekara,
August 19, 2019 6:04 PM

Trust in God

In the difficult moment of life trusting God remains the anchor to get hold of. He remains in control of the world. Things we can't explain. Only HaShem has the answers. There's the other component of Man. Immaterial. Spiritual. Erika experience in Auschwitz jarred at me. I felt it. May her memory be blessed. On resurrection day I will look out for her. Her story resonated. A gentile is finding G-d. HaShem has always been close by. The power of G-d can reach where no one expects. I have been battling with doubts regarding the prayers that seemingly go unanswered but now I know that He hears and knows. Therefore, even though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil or man.

(15)
Anonymous,
August 19, 2019 1:04 PM

Loving Providence!

I love stories that reveal the providential care of our loving Father in Heaven! Although there are many mysteries surrounding suffering, God's Presence reminds us of His care! May His Love shine through us, especially in our sorrows!

(14)
roslyn blumberg,
August 19, 2019 12:37 PM

fine

never enough stories about faith

(13)
Elizabeth Villalobos,
August 19, 2019 7:38 AM

Thank you

Only to say thank you. I am sorry

(12)
JoAnn Dolberg,
August 18, 2019 11:28 PM

Heart-wrenching but glorious, at the same time

This--an example of beauty that rises from the ashes.

(11)
S STRONG,
August 18, 2019 7:31 PM

Should be Required reading at ALL Schools in U.S. and Everywhere

I thank everyone for their sacrifices and bravery. We Must ALL Speak up tell stories of Truth that will help others understand about inhumanity,prejudices and how to recognize and prevent such atrocities in the now and in the future

(10)
James Gavin,
August 18, 2019 6:48 PM

the number on her arm,

i was a 16 year old teen in london in 65,i got a job in london in a fashion warehouse,the jewish owner looked at my shoes and commented that i cud do with a new pair and that i got the job,i asked him the next day for a sub,he said yes,as we were talking i noticed the numbers on his arm,i asked him was he in auswitch,he replied ,i dont want to talk about it,a few days afterwards he relented and told me his story,he told me he and his friend escaped after blackmailing the guard who was gay ,was a death sentence in the german army then,they got to sweden and then to london,always regretted that i forgot his name but never forgot his kindness

(9)
feigie,
August 18, 2019 6:46 PM

thank you

Thank you for sharing your story now, Gedalia. Your wife has a holy heritage. Today survivors are mainly forgotton, left marginalized by accessibility issues and lack of funds or extended family and still living the horrors. In Israel there are many generations of heroes since then. I am trying to generaye momentum urgently for agencies to request each shul seek out survivors and assign volunteers who would learn from them and make them feel a part of their communities while there is still time. Lets ask Aish and NCYI and OU and Chabad and Aguda to do this now so we hear these treasures first hand.

(8)
Yaakov N,
August 18, 2019 5:58 PM

Well written, as usual

@Gedalya: please continue your talented writing.
Do we see you over Yomtov?

(7)
Judith,
August 18, 2019 5:31 PM

Never forget never forgive

Never forget never forgive

Anonymous,
August 21, 2019 10:18 PM

Forgive

Gd says for us to forgive, although that doesn't mean what has happened was okay. However, if someone never forgives these atrocities, I would NEVER criticize them for it. If in their presence, I would put my arms around them and just care that they were hurt and affected more than words can say.

Anonymous,
August 21, 2019 10:20 PM

Forgive

Gd says we are to forgive. Forgiveness does NOT eliminate justice!

(6)
E WILSON,
August 18, 2019 5:11 PM

Where the Men on Duty in the Gestapo HQ Arrested ?

Where the Germans on Duty in the Gestapo HQ, Ever Arrested, tried and executed at Wars End?

We need to be reminded that each morning at 6.00 am, a French undertakers hearse was driven to Gestapo HQ Paris, each day on average they collected five bodies - people who had died the day before, during or after torture, or had been summarily shot, these Gestapo atrocities occurred daily throughout Europe including Budapest, I have never seen any mention of arrests being made of these men, and never heard of any hunts, trials or executions of these criminals. Why ?

Dvirah,
August 19, 2019 6:16 AM

Too Routine To Matter

Probably because in the totality of Nazi activity they were "small beer". Focus was given to the "top brass".

(5)
Anonymous,
August 18, 2019 4:05 PM

I truly miraculous story.

Is wonderful how stories like this continue to surface after all these years.

(4)
Bob Van Wagner,
August 18, 2019 3:47 PM

The Dutch overseer

He also gave great advice, for while it is imperative to trust in Hashem, at times that ability is so impaired, that Eli's advice applies: 'But the foreman rebuked her: “Look at that crematorium. There is my wife, there are my children, but I must continue. You have to carry on!”'

And that too is why Erika had the strength to open the purse, to empty and sort the contents, to read the letter, to emotionally and mentally process the words of her mother.

You have to carry on.

(3)
Nalinaksha Mutsuddi,
August 18, 2019 3:01 PM

Encouraging

The story touched the heart. I didn't have such faith in my life. I feel I must change my mentality. Thanks to the author

(2)
Herbert Ausubel,
August 18, 2019 2:54 PM

I believe!

As the son of an immigrant who came to the United Staes from Vienna in 1921 when he fearfully visualized a coming holocaust and urged all of Europe's Jews to leave, I studied history before I entered Harvard Medical School. My books which have won international awards tell the story of the Jewish people with the moral teaching that those who remain silent when wrong in done, serve as accomplices to the wrongdoing.

Sara kurtis,
August 18, 2019 10:07 PM

Listening to a witness makes you a witness.

Hadassa,
August 21, 2019 2:24 PM

So true!

(1)
Cathy Randall,
August 18, 2019 2:16 PM

When we feel that G-d has left us.

Just reading this article allows us to remember to have faith and always BELIEVE